The Bridge of Southern New Mexico
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Our History
    • Our Board Members
  • What We Do
  • How We Do It
    • Workforce Development
    • Early College High Schools
    • Dual Credit
    • Career and Technical Education Pathways
    • Bridge2Careers
  • Return on Investment
    • Case Studies and Reports
    • Personal Stories
    • Metrics that Matter
  • News & Events
  • How You Can Help
    • Our Supporters
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

Our History

In 2007, Las Cruces launched an unprecedented public-private community initiative. Leaders from multiple business sectors, elected and city officials, Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance and representatives of both Chambers of Commerce worked in partnership with all levels of the area’s educational community. Superintendents from Las Cruces, Gadsden and Hatch Public Schools, as well as presidents of Doña Ana Community College and New Mexico State University joined the team. The group committed to sitting together at the same table to solve the same problem and improve the future for youth and the community.

The work was incubated in the Education Committee of the Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, which became the Regional Education Initiative (REI). REI brought a similar composition of leaders together to analyze existing conditions and identify best practices that could be employed to significantly reduce the drop-out rate in Las Cruces.

Two years of research included industry analysis, academic analysis, focus groups, a workforce survey and GAP analysis. The REI group concluded that no shared vision of success existed among the educational entities or the community. The high school drop-out rate was high, and not consistently tracked. Students didn’t see the value in continuing their education and dropped out for a variety of reasons. Students also felt no connection with an adult who would encourage them to continue their education and explain the value of staying in school.

Best practices research revealed where the greatest success could be found: Smaller learning communities; knowledge that could be applied to “real world” jobs; workforce opportunities through career and technical education; and collaborative efforts between education, business and economic development. While some pieces and parts of best practices were employed in the community, those weren’t occurring at a scale that made a significant impact.

REI formed The Bridge in 2009 to facilitate collaboration across sectors and to support implementation of best practices that advance education and engage youth in the workforce. Since then, The Bridge continued working to build on the success of the Early College High School and the close partnership between education, economic development and business sectors. Leaders from the board of directors have stepped into other leadership roles statewide, helping bring innovation and success to scale, forge policy and continue to build the strongest pathways for student success.

  • Our Board Members
  • Our History
DONATE NOW
JOIN A TEAM!
Bridge2Careers
NEWS & EVENTS

Contact Us

  • info@thebridgeofsnm.org
  • p: (575) 646-6120
  • 3655 Research Drive
    Las Cruces, NM 88003

Explore

  • Home
  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • How We Do It
    • Workforce Development
      • Advanced Manufacturing Pathway
      • Aerospace and Defense Pathways
      • Agriculture Pathway
      • Digital Media Pathway
      • Energy Pathway
      • Healthcare Industry Pathways
      • Transportation and Logistics Pathways
      • Education Pathway
    • Early College High Schools
    • Dual Credit
    • Career and Technical Education Pathways
  • Return on Investment
    • Case Studies and Reports
    • Metrics that Matter
    • Personal Stories
  • How You Can Help
    • Our Supporters

Facebook Posts

Bridge2Careers

3 weeks ago

Bridge2Careers
Make decisions today that will get you into the career you're looking forward to tomorrow. You can now create your own personal career pathway by taking advantage of this FREE, short, six-session online course from NMSU OnDemand: Building Your Bridge2Careers. Find the link and more information in this story: ... See MoreSee Less

Bridge2Careers: New tool helps build education-to-workforce pathway

buff.ly

Bridge2Careers walks participants through the process of understanding careers that are best matched to their skills, interests and values.
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Bridge2Careers

4 weeks ago

Bridge2Careers
New data shows the "success sequence" works across racial and ethnic groups to ensure an individual doesn't fall into poverty. Check out this article from Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity: ... See MoreSee Less

How the 'Success Sequence' Impacts Young Black and Hispanic Adults - Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity

buff.ly

The ‘success sequence‘—earning at least a high school degree, working full-time in your 20s, and marrying before having children—has been held up in recent years, particularly by conservative ...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Scroll to top